*A dentist licensed in another state who did not take an ADEX exam for initial licensure must:

Have been actively practicing dentistry for at least five years, and during the five-year period preceding the application, have been actively engaged in practicing dentistry for at least 850 hours on average per year for a total of at least 4,250 hours.

Have passed an exam with a clinical component as required for initial licensure in another state.

Dental licensure in Maryland is regulated by the Licensing Unit of the Maryland Board of Dental Examiners, which is overseen by the Department of Health and Human Hygiene. All applications and documents outlining requirements can be found at dhmh.maryland.gov/dental. The “forms and apps” tab will take you to any checklist that you may need. The application asks for biographical information, education details, confirmation of character and a $450 fee. The jurisprudence exam, along with questions on ethics and character, asks specific questions regarding the use of assistants, radiology techs and even marketing in the state of Maryland. This also has a $50 fee.

The Maryland Board of Dental Examiners now expedites the processing of completed applications for veterans, service members and military spouses. It is not uncommon for applications received during “high time” (the months after graduation, usually May through August) to take up to two months to be processed.

It may seem like a daunting process but you are almost there. Staying organized and keeping track of score reports and dates will help make the process easier. Also, ask your dental school to make you a few copies of your diploma on 8x10 paper. Your huge diploma is great for your office wall, but will become an inconvenience when you have to send copies!

Find out about licensure in other states by visiting our licensure map.